Eva's journal

Pinterest has rekindled my obsession with 1970s Sindy dolls.

In other news I can still not use my left hand for anything useful. I can however do a little machine sewing, so I have started on a dress from the tie-dyed jersey.

Yes, I have again made something for one of my dolls. Something that is a part of a larger project.

Arabella has got herself a pair of 18th century stays.



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I think that I got a little overwhelmed by the idea that all outfits had to be made in four copies since I have four dolls who are (very unlike looking) sisters. But then I decided that I can make them outfits from different periods or regions. So Sophia (the blond one) is getting a German 16th century gown, Ginevra (the redhead) will get a Tudor or Elizabethan outfit and Elizabeth (the black haired one) will get a 1660s gown. 
At least that's the current plan.

And yes, it was a pain to sew the tabs and boring to make the lacing holes. Next thing to make is a panier or possibly a pair of pocket hoops.

But now I have enough dolls I think.

The redhead is another Cinderella, I dyed her hair with Schwarzkopf Natural&Easy (they have that in the local supermarket in a few colours) yesterday and elt it set over night, as clothsprogs suggested.

The spencers don't have any closure yet, they will probably get small metal snaps.

And a new dress. Sine I am expecting another Cinderella I have made another smock, petticoat and dress (and a pair of stockings) so she has something to wear when she arrives.

I have also re-painted the lips of the dolls that I hat I have and tentatively named them, though this may change when/if I decide to remake their eyes, because after remaking the lips on Belle, and touching up her eyebrows, she didn't look like a Katherine anymore, which she had done before.

Anyway, they are now named after three sister's in a Georgette Heyer novel. From left to right: Sophia, Elizabeth and Arabella.




Close-up



I have also finished my Santa dress. It is very comfy though possibly not as cute as I had envisioned.

Today i actually was well enough in my foot to take the tram downtown after I had been to the hospital, to get some sewing supplies for my redingote and the bonnet to go with it. I spent LOTS of money on various haberdashery, but I could do that since I got money from my mum as a birthday present.

The afternoon was spent making buttonholes by hand while watching Star Trek Next Generation, and making hummus and tabbouleh for dinner (we buy our falafels ready made). The redingote is now finished and as soon as the bonnet is made I will pose in it for my costuming blog.
I have not yet decided how it should look, but in the process of it I made two blog posts about winter bonnets, one for the period 1800-1809 and one 1810-1819.

I did start on my stretch velour skater style dress, but realized that I had too little fabric. Valeria goes to university close to the shop where I bought the fabric, so I have given her a sample so she can buy more for me next time she's there, on Wednesday.

So In continued with the regency chemisette I started on when Anna was over the other day, hemmed it, cut a collar, hemmed that, and made a small embroider on the collar tips. I have also started attaching it to the body of the chemisette, but since it's midnight now I'll go to bed, and continue tomorrow.





The dolls are now sitting in the kitchen window and they are so adorable that I had to share another photo.

My ankle still hurts a lot if I walk on it too much, so I am using my crutches more again. Today I had to get to the university since I teach a class, but I relaxed at home before lunch, working on my soon finished regency redingote, and listening to an audio book together with Rickard.

I look forward to going home and finish the very last hand sewing. Or at least the hand sewing that I can finish, I need to get either buttons or some other closure for it, but my foot is not well enough to get me down town to buy supplies.

So, next project ought to be one of these:

* Santa skater dress from stretch velour for me

* regency dresses for the dolls

* Winter bonnet to match the redingote. This will require some notions to finish, but I think that I could start it with what I have at home.

A group that I've never met has this meet up in 19th century clothing to go to the Christmas market at the nearby (extremely nearby, I see it from my kitchen window) amusement park on Sunday the 10th, and I'm hoping that I will be well enough for that by then, but then I would like to have a bonnet. And actually I wouldn't mind having a wool dress to wear under the redingote too, though so many layers of linen and cotton (shift, stays, petticoat, gown) may be warm enough.


 

My ankle is better now, I have even tried taking a few steps without crutches, and can careful put some weight on my right foot. Still better and easier with crutches though, so I try to remember to use them. I am very tired however, probably due to sleeping badly, with my foot elevated, but I hope that that will get better too.

I thought that I was going to be really excited about making things for the doll when they came, and I am, but I realize that I would even more like to have all the things made, than actually making them ;) I also had a hard time deciding which period they should wear. But I decided to start with regency. So yesterday I made shifts for them, and I have now started to cut out petticoats (with bodices) for them and will hopefully have the energy to start on those tonight.

My girls. I am going to re-paint the faces, but I need to have daylight, and a clearer head for that.




On the other hand I want to make myself a regency wool pelisse/redingote too.

Not to mention that I wanted to be able to go out and catch pokémon and raid this weekend, but that is of course out of the question with my foot.

Tomorrow Mattias, a new guy from the medieval group will come over and Anna and I will help him with his orange silk bliaut, lined in pink. I will also try to finish a scroll that needs to be sent to their highnesses for a n event that takes place next weekend.

 It only took 12 years of knowing clothsprogs  IRL, but now my interest in dolls is reaching a fever pitch. I am waiting for my dolls to reach Teddy,and then to get here, because I all I want to do is make clothes for them. I spend hours looking at dolls on auction sites, and looking for blogs to fuel my passion. Haven't found many, mainly because all google searches end up on Pinterest. Any tips are welcome.

I have'nt done much with the dollhouse for over a year, but today I decided to knit sweaters and caps for the kids; this is the first one.

It is knitted in the round up to where the sleeves should be, then front and back are knitted separately. There’s no neck scoop in the back, but one in the front. The body was sewn together at the shoudlers and then I picked up stitches for the sleeves.

I am not at all up past midnight looking at dolls on eBay.